Album



G. C. SZIKLAI March 29, 1949.

ALBUM Filed Feb. 17, 1945 says a Patented Mar. 29, 1949 ALBUM George C. Sziklai, Princeton, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1945, Serial No. 578,395

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to albums and particularly to albums for comparatively heavy and fragile articles, such as phonograph records, photographic plates and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide simple means for identifying the contents of an album without opening the album or removing it from the shelf or other support at which it is located.

Another object is to provide an improved album pull by the use of which the album may be removed from its shelf without fraying, damaging or otherwise abusing the back or binding of the album, as frequently happens with conventional albums.

A third object is the provision of an improved album with a combination index and album pull.

' These objects are achieved by the invention, an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

I Figure 1 of the drawing is a View in perspective of an album according to the invention with the index in the closed or retracted position,

Figure 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but With the index partly withdrawn for inspection,

Figure 3a is a view in detail of a portion of the index of Figs. 1 and 2,

Figure 3b is a view in detail of a portion of the album of Figs. 1 and 2. This figure is on the same scale as Fig. 3a and shows by projection lines the relative dimensions of the elements of the two figures,

Figure 4 is a View in detail of a portion of an album according to the invention and illustrates a modification of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Figure 5 is a view in section taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4, and

Figure 6 is a view in detail of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, an album Ill for phonograph records and the like has a back 12, at one end of .which there is a plate including a slot l4. As best seenin Fig. 3b the slot consists of two connecting portions, one of which Ma is Wider than the other Mb.

In a space behind the back is an index I 6 which may be of parchment or of a similar sturdy material. Identifying markings on the index provide an indication of the contents of the album. For example, if the album contains records, the titles of the records and other information about them may be written or printed on the index.

A rubber or elastic band 30 is connected'to one end of the index and secured within the back l2 by any appropriate means, such as rivets 26. The

index passes down and inside the back and is received within the slot i l. Because of the elastic band, the index is held in a normally retracted position within the back of the album. In place of the band, any appropriate biasing means may be employed, for example, springs or spring rollers as commonly used with window shades.

A cross bar 2i] and a ring or pull 22 are connected to the end of the index remote from the band til. As may be seen from the projection lines connecting Figs. 3a and 3b, the length of the cross bar is greater than the width of the slot portion Mb, but less than that of portion Ma. The pull 22 includes a part 24 (which may be regarded as a second cross bar) having a length greater than the width of slot portion [4a. The part 24 is shown in the drawing as discrete from the pull and the cross bar 28, but the three elements 2%], 22 and 24 may all be made integral or discrete as desired.

The index is normally withdrawn in the space behind the back l2 by the band 30. The cross bar 2i.) is able to pass the wider slot portion Ma and is, therefore, also withdrawn in the space behind the back. The part 24, however, being longer than the slot portion Ma, prevents retraction of the pull so that, when the back of the album is regarded the pull alone is visible.

To identify the contents of the album, it is not necessary to open it or to remove it from its shelf or other support. By pulling downwards on the ring the cross bar 20 is made to pass through slot portion Ito and the index is Withdrawn for inspection. If it is desired to remove the album the index is permitted to be retracted within the back by the force of the band 30, and the ring is pulled slightly upwards. The cross bar 20 cannot pass through the smaller slot portion Mb and the pulling force exerted removes the album from its shelf. Instead of using a metal plate for the slot, metal strips or other stiffening may, if desired, be provided around the edges of the slot 14. Without an arrangement such as here described, the back or binding of a conventional album is frequently frayed or otherwise damaged when it is pulled to remove the album from a shelf.

The index may, if desired. be made detachable from the back of the album, as for example, by the provision of hooks 28, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that on changing the contents of an album, another index with different identifying markings may be substituted. In place of the hooks 2'8, snap rings or any similar detachable securing means may be substituted. Other modifications within the scope of the invention will suggest themselves. For example, the slot l4 may be at the top of the album back and the index secured at its lower end. In this case, all

the elements described will be in reverse order;

There has thus been described'a'spring-biased index normally held in a retracted position Within the space behind the back of the LaIIbum; thein dex including a pull for removal of the album from its support.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 6. In-th-is embodiment the slotlfhas only" one portion instead-of the two portions I 4a an'd' Mb of-diilerentsize, as in Figsfl-S. A cross bar '34 havinga greater' dimensi'onthan the'slot-is-=secured tothe top ofthe-index. "The index may be withdrawn for inspection-by pullin downwards on the ring 22', as in the previous embodiment. ToTemove" the album' from' its support, however, it is not necessary I in this embodiment to permit the index "to be retracted withinthe: space hehind the -back 1 l2, -A continued downward pull on 'the ring 22' causes the 'cross*bar"34to engage the plate surrounding the slot l l and forc'e is thusaapplied to' remove'the album. "It is desirable in 'tl'iis embodiment tha't 'the-index be of palrticularly stur'dy material, =suchas cloth or parchment. The-ring ZZ -should' be of such shape and sizeas try-prevent its retraction Within-the slot, or the cross bar"z longer'than the slot may-be 'p'rovided for the same purpose.

rclaim as -myinvention:

1. album having a back provided withfa slot, said slot"having two connectin portions'iof d'ffieient =widths, an in'dex comprising a strip of flexible materia1 adapte'cl to pass througheai'd slot and secured within said back, bias meansl'for maintaining said index --in a retracted position behind "said back, and -me'ans connected to an end of said index for withdrawing the same through said slot and for 'moving saidalbum, said last mentioned means inc'ludinga pull and a cross bar whose "length isizintermediate the widths *of' said slot portions *a'n'd a connecting segment *po'sitioned betwee'n said pull "andsa'id cross' 'bar having a width-lessthan the' narrower of the said two *connecting portions of i said: slot.

secured behind the back of said album, bias means for maintaining said index in a retracted position behind said back, means for withdrawing said index through said slot in one direction, and means attached to said index for preventin withdrawal of said index through said slot in another direction.

5. Ansalbum having .alfback provi ded with a slot, said slot having two-connecting portions of different widths, an index comprising a strip of flexible material having an attaching end anda z-pulling end, adapted to pass through said slot and secured by said attaching end adjacent one end ofsaid baek, "biasmeans for maintaining said index-in aretracted position behind said back, a cross barconnected to said pulling end of said Iindexand haVing-adength intermediate the width of said slot portions and a pull including a memberc'onnected to the cross bar and having a dimension greater than the width of either of said portions, sai'diimember being ':connected to i'sai'd cross bar Ithrough z'a linlelng. segment havingra Wit-1th narrower" thanteit'her ref-said :slot portions.

6. An album hav'ingfa back;provided-'withta slot; said slot-having portions'rof' 'difierentwidths, an index comprising a strip 'of'flexible material adapted to pass :thrQugh-said-sIot, :eIastic means connected to an'zendmf the :i-ndex' -and secured within: said back, across bar :cormected tothe other end of Isa-id index, said cross bar having a l'ength intermediate :the widths of. saidslot vportions-through a segment ha'vingia widthnarrower than the width or any-:"Of :saidislOt portionaand.

a pull connected to said cross bar, said pullincl u'ding me ans to .i.prevent tits retraction within said'back.

"?..:An r album havingv'a 1-back {provided with a slot, said :slot having two;connecting-portions of different widthsgan index-z comprising a strip -of .flexiblermaterial adapted-to Tpass throughesaid slot and fleeing nermally positioned within' said.

back, and meansponn-ected to-an end of.- said' index ior Withdrawin thesame through said slot and for rnoving=said album, said-.llast mentioned means including a-pull a-ndr-a -cross bar having; a

"2. An alb'um according' -to claim' l, 'characterized in "that said index *is "det'abhably' se cured Within" said-b a'ck.

*3. An album having aback provided with a slot,'said slot having portions of differen't widths, an index comprising a'- strip-of flexible lmaterial adapted topass through' said "slot,.- sprlng means connected to a-n end of the -index and secured within said back, a "cross bar connecte'd to the length intermediate the Widths ofrsaidrslot .por-;

tions,-s'aid pullbeing connected to said-crossbar througha segment having-"a width-narrower than therwidth of either of-said? slot portions.

:sndnalbum' having amack provided with'a slot, an index comprising a strip of-flexiblema terial adapted to pass through said slot and secured behind the-back of said album, -bias means for l maintaining .said index in a retracted position behind said back, a pull connected to-said indexwfor withdrawing saiddndex throughsaid slot, means for preventing-retraction :of said-kpull.

through said .slot, and means c0nnected to said index for preventingcomplete withdrawalofsaid.

index throughsaid slot. I

GEORGE. .C. SZIKLAI.

REFERENCES CITED The following:- referencesf 'areri-of record ln-r'tliei :Freifeld July. 28, 1942 

